Appeal for families to claim loved ones from Lautoka Hospital mortuary
The appeal comes after concerns were raised that four bodies remain unclaimed at the hospital mortuary.
Wednesday 22 July 2026 | 11:30
Families have been urged to claim the bodies of their loved ones from the Lautoka Hospital mortuary, with community leaders saying every person deserves a dignified burial or cremation.
The appeal comes after concerns were raised that four bodies remain unclaimed at the hospital mortuary.
Lautoka Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy said it was distressing to see bodies left unclaimed for extended periods.
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Last week, the body of a 21-year-old man whose body had remained unclaimed at the Lautoka Hospital mortuary since late 2024 was finally laid to rest.
"It is sad in any culture or religion for a body to remain in a mortuary for too long," Mr Reddy said.
"It is unfortunate that some families have not claimed the bodies of their loved ones. We promote Fiji as 'the way the world should be', but situations like this tell a different story.
"We should show our love and respect for one another. Families should come forward and give their loved ones a dignified burial or cremation.
"We already have issues with street dwellers, and now there are several unclaimed bodies in the mortuary."
Lautoka businessman Hafiz Rahman echoed the call, saying families should take responsibility for claiming their relatives.
"It is high time for us to get our acts together. We should not burden the taxpayers to cover costs," Mr Rahman said.
Acting Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr Luisa Cikamatana Rauto said the handling of unclaimed bodies depended on the circumstances of each case.
"It all depends on who is responsible for the body. We continue to communicate with families so they understand the process," Dr Rauto said.
She said the procedures differed depending on whether the death was a hospital case or a forensic case.
"If it is a hospital case, the Ministry of Health will cover the burial costs. If it is a forensic case, responsibility rests with the Fiji Police Force."
Dr Rauto said there could also be unclaimed bodies at other mortuaries, particularly where the deceased had not been identified.
"There can be cases involving people of unknown identity. There are legal processes that must be followed before approval is granted to dispose of unclaimed bodies," she said.
